for one week in july 2013, 3 million participants from 175 nations attended the world youth day (wyd), which became one of the most beautiful and memorable events in the history of rio de janeiro.

2013 world youth day took place in rio de janeiro from 23 to 28 july. the 2013 edition was especially significant after the appointment of pope francis, the first pope from the americas. 2013 also saw the return of wyd to south america, having last occurred on the continent in 1997, in buenos aires.